Sydney Cricket Ground is set to host two cricket heavyweights in the New Year Test as the India-Australia series reaches its business end. Australia is 2-1 up, and India will need to step up if they want to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after two consecutive series wins in Australia. This time, their dominance looks under threat, initially the series was balanced at 1-1. However, after beating India by 184 runs at the MCG, things changed drastically, and the WTC final scenario also shifted. Even if India wins the SCG Test, their chances of making it to the WTC final will be slim, as it is Sri Lanka who can help them if they manage to clean up Australia in the upcoming series.
Sydney Pitch report ahead of IND vs AUS 5th Test
Usually, Sydney Cricket Ground surface are known for helping spinners a lot. Although the pitch is also helpful for batters, we have seen big scores in the first innings. However, as the days pass, it becomes more helpful for spinners. Shane Warne dominated this surface in the past, and currently, it is Nathan Lyon who is doing impressive job here. We can assume that both teams may go with a power-packed spin attack, and the role of Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja will be big in India’s playing XI.
Looking what the SCG pitch curator Adam Lewis said according to him covers were recently taken off and the pitch on Wednesday had 7 mm of grass, which had been cut. He also said heavy rolling would be done on the surface.
“So we’re two days out now, getting to the final stages of the prep. We’ve taken the covers off this morning, given a cut of about 7mm and giving it a nice roll today, nice pressing. Really happy with where it’s at. Giving it a little flick of water, it’s very hot in Sydney today, so we’ll just keep the moisture there just at the top. And then tomorrow, we’ll do a little bit more heavier rolling, take a little bit of the colour out, then we should be ready to go for the morning” Lewis in a video shared by the SCG’s official X handle.
Sydney weather report ahead of IND vs AUS 5th Test
| Date | Summary | Min Temp | Max Temp | Rain Chance | Winds |
| Friday 3 Jan | Cloudy, possible rainfall | 20°C | 26°C | 30% | Light winds, becoming east to northeasterly |
| Saturday 4 Jan | Sunny, slight chance of thunderstorm | 20°C | 29°C | 5% | Light winds, becoming northeasterly |
| Sunday 5 Jan | Mostly sunny, slight chance of shower | 21°C | 32°C | 5% | Winds north to northeasterly, light in the evening |
| Monday 6 Jan | Sunny, slight chance of thunderstorm | 21°C | 32°C | 30% | Winds north to northeasterly, turning easterly |
| Tuesday 7 Jan | Partly cloudy, possible showers | 21°C | 27°C | 60% | Winds south to southeasterly |
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